bicycle and trailer for SHTF

I bought a bicycle to help get into shape. Now that the weather is getting better I cant even look at my bicycle without my four year old wanting to go along, As you can imagine it is not much of a workout when a four year old is riding her own bike with you. My solution was to buy a bicycle trailer. I thought a bicycle trailer makes sense for hauling a kid and working out. Also it could be real handy during SHTF.

When it is empty you dont even notice the trailer on the bike. However when you have some weight back there it is another deal entirely. With my 40 pound daughter I dropped down two gears on level ground. Coming to any grade and it just got miserable. I just went on half of my normal route and I am whipped. Anyone who plans on using a bicycle or a bicycle and trailer better get used to riding it before they need to use it for real.

I bought a bicycle to help get into shape. Now that the weather is getting better I can&#8217;t even look at my bicycle without my four year old wanting to go along, As you can imagine it is not much of a workout when a four year old is riding her own bike with you. My solution was to buy a bicycle trailer. I thought a bicycle trailer makes sense for hauling a kid and working out. Also it could be real handy during SHTF.

When it is empty you don&#8217;t even notice the trailer on the bike. However when you have some weight back there it is another deal entirely. With my 40 pound daughter I dropped down two gears on level ground. Coming to any grade and it just got miserable. I just went on half of my normal route and I am whipped. Anyone who plans on using a bicycle or a bicycle and trailer better get used to riding it before they need to use it for real.

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Not for nothing but you should cherish these days....they don't last forever, my son is 16 and my daughter more or less ran away from home. Forget it. I think you'd move fast with a pack on your back...a trailer would most def slow ya down.

They also make a bike that clamps on to the back or yours. It has only one wheel and they can still peddle, its basically a regular kids bike without the fornt wheel that clamps on to the back of yours (couldnt figure out how to describe it). I cant seem to find it on google but I know they have them at Acedemy Sports.

Much better than walking. You can hike 2 miles an hour , but even weighed down with a trailer you could probably average 10mph on a bike. There are quiet a few people who bicycle across America over the summer, using a trailer and/or panniers. All you need beyond the usual BOB stuff is inner tubes, pump, a repair kit, and maybe a tarp to protect your bike from rain when you stop for camp.

I'm too out of shape to go backpacking...But my Raliegh comfort bike with front and rear rack and panniers hauled 50 lbs of camping equipment,food and water 60-70 miles a couple years ago...We spent the weekend on the PA rails to trails...Awesome time..

I like the bike idea....and think it could come in handy for a lot of people. With my local off road terrain though that bike is gonna need 44" mudders. I can only assume that on the road travel is going to cross the vision of many other people who may be interested in what you have in your pack / trailer.

CLM

I like the bike idea....and think it could come in handy for a lot of people. With my local off road terrain though that bike is gonna need 44" mudders. I can only assume that on the road travel is going to cross the vision of many other people who may be interested in what you have in your pack / trailer.

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It depends on the SHTF and your location.

You could have rode across DC or out of NYC with gold bricks just after 911 and no one would have F with you.

I would not have walked around NO with a backpack, let alone a on a bicycle.

I've always thought the bike concept as a bugout vehicle was a great one.

Most likely, any Long Emergency scenario will presumably involve a huge fossil fuel shortage.

For those of us that need to get somewhere in that situation, a bicycle may be the perfect conveyance: easy to store long-term, anyone can become a proficient bike mechanic with minimal training, can cover great distances if you are in shape, and can load a pretty decent amount of gear.

On one weekend we probably did 50-60 miles total....Thats starting Saturday around noon and heading home Sunday around 5pm.....There were a couple hills that were just too steep to peddle with my loaded down bike...(we were temp. off the trails)...I would just push my bike until I crested the hill moving at hikers pace....

Then down the other side we would be cruising 15-18 mph....On the flats I average 7-10 mph....Slight uphill 6-8 mph....I could never hump a 50lb backpack no where near that distance..

I'm an avid cyclist, and a long-distance commuter who knows how worthless our highway systems are in a 'crisis' (an inch of snow, etc.). Thinking about buying a folding bike (Dahon, etc.) and tossing it in the car.

I purchased one of the game carts that is advertised from time to time. I went to a blacksmith and had him attach a collar to the cart that could in turn be fastened to any bicycle on the vertical portion under the seat. This gives a hauling capacity of a couple of hundred pounds. I don't know how to post pictures here, but if some one wants one, just shoot me an email address.

I have seen everything probably possible as I used to eat at a lunch counter on the main north - south route along the California coast.

One guy had two carts in tandem behind his bike. He travels up and down the coast on a permanent basis. Of course some people load the bikes up up with baskets, luggage carriers with expandable straps or haul baby strollers behind.

One guy my age has been riding around on his bicycle for over 37 years collecting bottles and cans for turn in.

I'm an avid cyclist, and a long-distance commuter who knows how worthless our highway systems are in a 'crisis' (an inch of snow, etc.). Thinking about buying a folding bike (Dahon, etc.) and tossing it in the car.

I like the bike idea....and think it could come in handy for a lot of people. With my local off road terrain though that bike is gonna need 44" mudders. I can only assume that on the road travel is going to cross the vision of many other people who may be interested in what you have in your pack / trailer.

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I'll ask.

Do they make a 44" tire for Mountain Bikes or is that a typo?

As for a bike, for a SHTF event, couple of things to keep in mind.

Do NOT buy a top of the line bike...heck even a nice bike for that matter. If you are talking a true SHTF event remember when you are riding it at any time someone could jack you and you could be leaving that nice $1,000 ride on the side of the road. Which brings up the second point.

Compared to walking, I would think you are much more vulnerable.

Third, take a hint from NYC messengers. Don't buy some Krypton lock which can be defeated with a pen....or even a cable lock. It will be heavy, but get yourself a nice 3-4' section of heavy duty Grade 80 chain and lock you can throw over your shoulder. You know darn well there will be people just walking around with a bolt cutter looking for stuff to take.

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